Systems monitoring lead acid vehicle batteries
(starter batteries and forklift batteries) currently only observe
the whole battery at the outer clamps. Common Lithium battery
management systems measure each cell using complex wired
solutions. This causes the serious galvanic isolation problems. The
research project BATSEN proposes the use of wireless batteries
cell sensors. This allows the separated integration inside each
cell, avoids complex wire and connector systems, but above all
there is no galvanic isolation problem.
Therefore wireless sensors shall monitor each battery cell by
measuring voltage and temperature. A central battery control
unit will be used to combine the cell measurements with a current
measurement and estimates the State of Charge (SOC) and the
State of Health (SOH) of the battery. As a first step wireless
sensors for lead acid batteries will be developed. In the future
the sensors will also be applied in lithium batteries for electric
or hybrid vehicles.